The international fame of bass player François Rabbath acknowledges both the untiring teacher author of a Nouvelle technique de la contrebasse which a whole generation of students desirous of freeing themselves from the fetters of traditional teaching has taken up and the inspired soloist unsparing of himself in concert. For several years now he has become accustomed to spending a few days in the summer in Kansas City (Missouri) to give master classes and a concert there in the framework of the ‘KC BassFest’. In July 2016 a moving surprise awaited him: on the stage of the American Jazz Museum afull-length portrait was unveiled painted by local artist Ruthie Ingram from photos taken during his recital the previous year. By way of thanks Rabbath dedicated Trombes d’eau to her a solo piece lasting approximately six minutes composed at the instigation of the International Society of Bassists for the 2017 edition of the International Double Bass Competition. Conceived as a series of short variations on an impassioned theme the work emphasises evocative glissandi and explores double stopping and artificial harmonics without ever sacrificing the essential: the pleasure of musical expression.